76 NATURAL HISTORY. 
and even Cuvier speaks of the “inconveniency of its or- 
ganization,” and says of it that “nature seems to have 
amused herself in producing something grotesque and 
imperfect.” But there is perfect adaptation here, as in 
every other animal, of the organization to the habits. It 
is constructed to live just in the way that it does, and 
moves about in the trees with great facility. It has been 
known to go from the bottom to the top of a high tree 
in a minute’s time. With its strong curved claws it 
sleeps hanging from the branches of a tree as easily as a 
bird sleeps on its perch. The three species of Sloths are 
found only in the forests of the tropical portion of South 
America. They live on the leaves of trees. 
129. The order of Marsupials is named from a pouch 
or bag (Latin, marsupium) which the females have for 
carrying their young for some time after birth. The 
young are born in an immature helpless state, and a sort 
of nest is thus provided for them in the body of the moth- 
er. Even after they have become able to leave it, they 
flee to it whenever they are alarmed. There are about 
eighty species. All of these animals are found only in 
Australia and the neighboring islands, except the Opos- 
sums, which are found on the western continent, especial- 
ly in South America. 
130. The Great Kangaroo, Fig. 65 (p.77), a native of 
Australia, has very long and powerful hind legs, and can 
make leaps of fifteen feet. Its fore feet are short and 
small, and are used more as hands than as feet. Its 
length is about five feet, and its tail is three feet long. 
There are many different species of Kangaroos, all having 
a general resemblance to this. 
131. The Opossums are peculiar to America. There 
are about twenty species. They are arboreal in their 
habits, and they are assisted in their climbing, like some 
of the Monkey tribe, by their tails, which are long and 
scaly. In one other respect they are still more allied to 
the Monkeys. The inner toe of the hinder foot is some- 
